Water-retaining recreational structure for swimming pools and the like



Oct. 25, 1966 M. Y. GERSHMAN WATER-RETAINING RECREATIONAL STRUCTURE FORSWIMMING POOLS AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. 23, 1965 INVENTOR. MELVIN Y.GERSHMAN A TTO/P/VE) United States Patent WATER-RETAINING RECREATIONALSTRUC- TURE FOR SWIG POGLS AND TEE LIKE Melvin Y. Gershman, WestHartford, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Coleco IndustriesInc., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 23, 1965,Ser. No. 507,634 10 Claims. (til. 4172) The present application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application Serial Number 364,370,filed May 4, 1964, and entitled Swimming Pool Assembly, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to water retaining recreational structuresand more particularly to a novel frame assembly for a swimming pool,hockey rink, and the like, of the type having a flexible liner supportedby a peripheral frame.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide a novel frame assemblyfor supporting a flexible liner which is rigid and rugged in assemblyand which may be relatively easily assembled. A related aim is toprovide such an assembly which may be manufactured relativelyeconomically and easily and which is adapted to provide both swimmingpools of substantial depth and hockey rinks of relatively shallow depth.

Other related aims and advantages will be readily apparent from thefollowing detailed specification and attached drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a swimming pool utilizingthe novel frame assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view to an enlargedscale along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view to an enlarged scale alongthe line 33 of FIGURE 2 with a portion of the locking member broken awayto reveal internal construction;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of the frameassembly with the supporting panel removed for clarity of illustration;and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view to an enlargedscale illustrating the intermediate support member positioned formounting.

It has now been found that the foregoing and related objects may bereadily attained in a novel frame assembly used in a water-retainingrecreational structure of the type having a liner member of flexible,relatively waterproof sheet material providing a bottom wall portion anda side wall portion extending about the periphery of the bottom wallportion. The frame assembly has a relatively rigid, generally verticalsupport panel extending about the exterior periphery of the side wallportion of the liner member and closely adjacent thereto to provide theliner side wall portion with rigid horizontal support both against waterpressure from water stored therein and against distortion by pressuresapplied during use. The panel is vertically dimensioned to coincidegenerally with the vertical dimension of the liner side wall portion toprovide horizontal support for the full surface thereof.

A plurality of elongated horizontal support members extend in end-to-endrelationship about the periphery of the liner member and have alignedslots horizontally extending therealong in the inner surface thereofwhich 3,28,4fi8 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 receive one horizontal edgeportion of the support panel to align the panel edge portions and tolimit transverse movement thereof. The frame further includes aplurality of locking members having horizontally spaced side wallportions and an outer wall portion extending therebetween with the sidewall portions extending vertically inwardly of the frame assembly fromthe outer wall portions. The locking members receive and hold inalignment between their side wall portions the end portions of adjacenthorizontal support members. Extending vertically inwardly of the frameassembly from the locking members and engaged therewith to preventsubstantial movement therebetween are a plurality of vertical supportmembers. The end portions of the adjacent horizontal support membersreceived in each looking member are snugly interposed between thelocking member outer wall portions and the end of the vertical supportmembers, and the adjacent horizontal support members to permit limitedrelative movement therebetween in assembly, to accommodate fabricatingtolerances and thermal expansion and contraction of the components andto prevent the adjacent horizontal support members from slidingperipherally away from the locking members. Most desirably, this isprovided by having on these ends of the vertical support members,cooperating projections and recesses which are engaged to prevent theadjacent horizontal support members from sliding peripherally away fromthe vertical support members and thereby from the locking members. Theframe also includes means providing vertical support for the upper edgeportion of the liner side wall portion. Desirably, the end portions ofthe horizontal support members have vertically inwardly projectingengaging portions which engage with the ends of the vertical supportmembers.

As will be appreciated, the support panel is most conveniently a singlecontinuous length of relatively rigid material such as corrugated metal.However, a plurality of panel elements may be employed if so desired,particularly where even greater rigidity is desirable.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame includes upper and lower horizontalsupport members of equal number and substantially of equal length and ofchannel-like crosssection which lock into alignment the upper and loweredges respectively of the support panel. The upper or vertically outerwall portions of the upper support members have vertically inwardly ordownwardly projecting engaging portions and the end portions of thelower wall portions are recessed to provide vertical access to theprojecting portions. Similarly, the lower or vertically outer wallportions of the lower support members have vertically inwardly orupwardly projecting engaging portions and the end portions of the upperwall portions are recessed to provide vertical access to the projectingportions. Upper and lower locking members of channel-like cross-sectiontelescopically receive the end portions of adjacent upper and lowersupport members respectively and are engaged with the end portions ofvertical support members extending therebetween to prevent substantialrelative movement therebetween. The upper and lower wall portions of theupper and lower support members are snugly interposed between the upperand lower wall portions of the upper and lower locking members and theupper and lower ends of the vertical support members. The end portionsof the vertical support members are engaged with the projecting engagingportions to prevent the adjacent upper and lower support members fromsliding periph erally away from the vertical support members and therebyfrom the upper and lower locking members. Desirably, the verticalsupport members are vertically dimensioned to seat the upper and lowerlocking members and thereby the upper and lower support panels.

Preferably, the vertical support members are generally channel-like andhave peripherally spaced side wall portions against the interior surfaceof which abut the upwardly projecting engaging portions and thedownwardly projecting engaging portions to prevent the lower and uppersupport members from sliding peripherally away from the vertical supportmembers.

For convenience in assembling the frame, the upper support members andthe lower support members are substantially identically configured anddimensioned for interchangeability.

In fabricating a swimming pool, the side wall portion of the liner maybe conveniently vertically supported by folding the upper edge portionthereof over the upper edge of the support panel and providing a copingelement which fits tightly over the folded liner material to secure thematerial to secure the material to the support panel. In swimming poolsof substantial height, the frame assembly most desirably includes aplurality of intermediate support members extending peripherally betweenthe vertical support members intermediate the horizontal support membersand outwardly of the support panel and the side walls of the verticalsupport members have apertures therein for seating the ends of theintermediate support members which desirably are releasably lockedthereto by fasteners such as sheet metal screws or by other suitablemeans.

Referring now in detail to the attached drawing, FIG- URES 1 and 2illustrate a generally circular swimming pool utilizing the frameassembly of the present invention in combination With a liner membergenerally designated by the numeral 2 and fabricated from flexible,waterproof synthetic plastic material with a bottom wall portion 4 and aside wall portion 6 extending about the periphery of the bottom wallportion 4. A support panel 8 of relatively rigid sheet materialillustrated as corrugated metal extends about the exterior periphery ofthe liner side wall portion 6 and is closely adjacent thereto to providerigid horizontal support against the pressure of water 10 in the pooland distortion by pressures occurring during use.

The upper edge portion of the liner side wall portion 6 is folded overthe upper edge of the support panel 8 and secured thereon bychannel-shaped coping 12 of semirigid material such as synthetic plasticdimensioned to bear tightly against the interior and exterior surfacesof the support panel 8 through the material of the liner side wallportion 6. The upper and lower edges of the support panel 8 areflattened and folded over to form a marginal head which provides arounded edge portion free of corrugations, thus minimizing the risk oftearing the liner material on a rough metal edge. Moreover, the coping12 fits tightly over the bead and is locked thereby against inadvertentdisengagement from the support panel 8.

The support panel 8 is aligned and secured against movement transverselyof the major surface thereof by a plurality of lower and upper,channel-like, horizontal support members generally designated by thenumerals 14, 140! respectively, which extend in end-to-end relationshipabout the liner member 2. The lower horizontal support members 14 havehorizontally spaced side wall portions 16, 18, and vertically spacedouter or lower and inner or upper wall portions 20, 22 respectively, andare generally arcuate to conform to the periphery of the liner member 2and the support panel 8. The upper wall portions 22 are horizontallyspaced from the radially outer side wall portions 16 to provide alignedgrooves or slots 24 extending longitudinally along the support members14 which receive the lower horizontal edge portions of the support panel8 to prevent the panel edges from moving transversely out of alignment.As seen in FIGURE 4,

dthe free edge of the upper wall portion '22 of the lower supportmembers 14 is bent downwardly to provide a longitudinally extendingflange portion 26 which rigidities the top wall portion 22 andstrengthens the edge of slot 24 against which the support panel 8 bears.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the end portions of the lower wallportions 20 of the support members 14 have upwardly extending engagingportions or tabs 28 incised and bent upwardly from the material of thelower wall portions 2% The end portions of the upper wall portions 22are recessed at 30 to provide vertical access to the tabs 28.

The end portions of adjacent lower support members 14 are telescopicallyreceived and held in alignment by channel-like lower aligning or lockingmembers generally designated by the numeral 32 each having a bottom wallportion 34 disposed under the lower support members 14 and twohorizontally spaced side wall portions 36, 38 extending verticallyinwardly of the frame assembly or upwardly from the bottom wall portion34 to hold the lower support members 14 in horizontal alignment. The topwall portion '40 terminates inwardly from the side wall portion 36 toprovide a slot or groove for receiving the support panel 8. The freeedge of the top wall portion 4-8 has a recess 42 adjacent the centerthereof providing vertical access to the tab portions 28 of thehorizontal support members 14- and an integral tab 44 with an aperture46 therein is formed from the metal thereof and projects upwardly fromthe marginal portion of the top wall portion 40 adjacent the recess 42.

A vertical support member generally designated by the numeral 48 havingperipherally spaced, vertically extending side wall portions 50, 52 withrolled over free edges and connected by the outer wall or 'web portions54 extends vertically through the recess 42 in the lower locking member32 and bears against the upper surface of the lower wall portions 20 ofadjacent lower support members 14. A self-tapping sheet metal screw 56extending through aperture 46 in tab element 4-4 engages within theaperture 58 in the lower portions of outer wall portion 54 of verticalsupport member 48, and the recess 42 is dimensioned to receive snuglythe end portion of the vertical support member 48 to prevent substantialrelative movement therebetween.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the upwardly extending tab portions 28 abutagainst the interior surfaces of the side wall portions 50, 52 ofvertical support member 48, thus preventing adjacent lower supportmembers 14 from sliding peripherally away from the vertical supportmember 48 and thereby from the lower locking number 32. The lower wallportion 22 of lower support member 14 is snugly interposed between thelower wall portion 34 of lower locking member 32 and the lower end ofvertical support member 48, thus preventing the tab portions 28 fromsliding out from under the vertical support member 48.

The upper support members 14.2 are substantially identical inconfiguration and dimension to the lower support members .14. Althoughthe upper locking members 320 are generally similarly configured to thelower locking members 32, the lower wall portion 40a terminates at adistance spaced sufficiently from the side wall portion 35 to receivethe vertical support member 48 in the spacing therebetween to permitslidable movement there-onto during assembly at a right angle thereto.Moreover, the free end of the side wall portion 36 is reversely bent toprovide a lip portion 41 which cooperates with the body thereof toprovide a channel in which the side wall portions 16a are retainedduring relative sliding movement and to en- *hance the rigidity of theassembly. The members 14a, 32a cooperate with the upper edge of thesupport panel 8 and the upper end portions of the vertical supportmembers 43 in substantially the same manner as their respective lowercounterparts cooperate with the lower edge of the support panel 8 andthe lower end portions of the ver tical support members 48. The openingsin the vertically outer or upper wall portion 20a resulting from thedownward bending of tab portions 28a are covered by the upper wallportion 34a of upper locking members 32a to prevent the passage of watertherethrough. The upper locking members 32a are disposed verticallyabove the lower locking members 32 and the vertical support members 48are vertically dimensioned to seat the lower and upper locking members32, 32a and thereby the lower and upper support members 14, 14a aboutthe lower and upper edges of the support panel 8. Although the seatingof the lower and upper support members 14, 14a over the horizontal edgesof the support panel 8 is desirably firm, care must be taken to avoidtoo tight a seat which might cause the upper edge of the support panel 8to cut through the material of the liner side wall portion 6. As can beseen in FIGURE 2, the side wall portions 16 of the support members 14aare seated in the channels between the lip portions 41 and side wallportions 16.

When of substantial height, the support panel 8 is provided withadditional support means intermediate the lower and upper supportmembers 14, 14a. -In the illustrated embodiment, elongated, relativelyrigid intermediate support members 69, illustrated as tubular in formand generally arcuate along their length to conform to the periphery ofthe support panel 8, have flattened end portions which fit into theslots or apertures 62 in the side wall portions 59, 52 of the verticalsupport members 48. As seen in FIGURE 5, self-tapping metal screws 64extend through apertures @5 in the vertical support members 48 andengage apertures 68 in the flattened end portions of the support membersSt) to secure the intermediate support members 6t firmly to the verticalsupport members 48.

As will be readily appreciated, the channel-like crosssections of theupper and lower support members and of the vertical support membersprovide great strength and rigidity with a minimum of material, and maybe easily stamped and formed from sheet metal. The support members arequickly and easily interengageable in assembly by means of integrallyformed portions of the several elements, thus minimizing the need forseparately formed, expensive fittings. In assembling the frame, twoadjacent horizontal support members may be quickly slid into the lowerlocking member, and a relatively short vertical movement of a verticalsupport member relative to the locking member engages the verticalsupport member with the horizontal support members. Thereafter, a singlescrew locks the vertical support member to the lower locking member toform a strong, simple junction of the two horizontal support memberswith the vertical support member. One horizontal edge of the supportpanel may be quickly and easily placed in the slot in the horizontalsupport members, and the opposing horizontal support members may besimilarly and quickly secured at the other end of the vertical supportmember by sliding the locking member into position along the horizontalsupport members which are first positioned. The end portions of thehorizontal and vertical support members are concealed by the lockingmembers. Moreover, the support panel i dimensioned to locate thevertical edges behind the vertical support members. Thus, the danger ofexposed sharp edges upon the frame assembly is minimized.

Thus, it is seen that the present invention provides a novel frameassembly for a water-retaining recreational structure which is quicklyand easily assembled, which is rigid and rugged, and which may befabricated easily and relatively economically.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a water-retaining recreational structure of the type having aliner member of flexible, relatively waterproof sheet material providinga bottom wall portion and a side wall portion extending about theperiphery of said bottom Wall portion, the combination therewith of aframe assembly for supporting said liner member and having a relativelyrigid, generally vertical support panel extending about the periphery ofsaid linear side wall portion and closely adjacent thereto to provide arelatively rigid horizontal support; a plurality of elongated horizontalsupport members extending in end-to-end relationship about said linermember, said horizontal support members having spaced side, outer andinner wall portions and generally aligned slots in said inner Wallportions horizontally extending therealong and snugly receiving onehorizontal edge portion of said support panel for aligning said edgeportion and limiting transverse movement thereof; a plurality of lockingmembers having an inner wall portion, horizontally spaced side wallportions and an outer wall portion extending therebetween, said sidewall portions extending vertically inwardly of said frame assembly fromsaid outer wall portion, each of said locking members telescopicallyreceiving and holding in alignment the end portions of a pair ofadjacent horizontal support members within said locking member side wallportions, and having a channel in the inner wall portion receiving onehorizontal edge portion of said support panel; and a plurality ofvertical support members extending vertically inwardly of said frameassembly from said locking members, having an outer wall portion spacedfrom said support panel and side wall portions extending toward saidside wall panel, said inner wall portions of said locking members andsaid end portions of said horizontal support members having cooperatingseating apertures therein receiving the end portions of said verticalsupport members, said vertical support members being engaged with saidlocking members to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween,said end portions of said adjacent horizontal support members with saidlocking members being snugly interposed between said locking memberouter wall portions and one end of said vertical support members, saidadjacent horizontal support members being engaged with said verticalsupport members within said locking members to permit limited relativehorizontal telescopic movement therebetween in assembly and to preventsaid adjacent horizontal support members from sliding peripherally awayfrom said locking members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein one end of said vertical supportmembers and said end portions of said adjacent horizontal supportmembers within said locking members have cooperating projections andrecesses engaged to limit telescopic sliding movement of said horizontalsupport members relative to said vertical support members.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said end portions of saidhorizontal support members within said locking members have verticallyinwardly projecting engaging portions on said outer wall portionsengaged with said one end of said vertical support members.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said end portions of saidhorizontal support members received Within said locking members havevertically inwardly projecting portions on said outer wall portionsinwardly of said side Wall portions of said vertical support members tolimit the peripheral movement thereof.

5. In a water-retaining recreational structure of the type having aliner member of flexible, relatively waterproof sheet material providinga bottom wall portion and a side wall portion extending about theperiphery of said bottom wall portion, the combination therewith of aframe assembly for supporting said liner member and having a relativelyrigid, generally vertical support panel extending about the periphery ofsaid liner side wall portion and closely adjacent thereto to provide arelatively rigid horizontal support, said panel being verticallydimensioned to generally coincide with the vertical dimension of saidliner side wall portion; a plurality of channellike horizontal supportmembers extending in end-toend relationship generally about said linermember, said horizontal support members having vertically spaced innerand outer wall portions and side wall portions therebetween with saidinner Wall portions having aligned slots horizontally extendingtlierealong and snugly receiving one horizontal edge portion of saidsupport panel for aligning said edge portion and for limiting transversemovement thereof, the end portions of said outer wall portions havingvertically inwardly projecting engaging portions, the end portions ofsaid inner wall portions being recessed to provide vertical access tosaid engaging pordons; a plurality of channel-like locking membershaving an inner wall portion, horizontally spaced side wall portions andan outer wall portion extending therebetween with said inner wallportion having a channel therein receiving one horizontal edge portionof said support panel, said side wall portions extending verticallyinwardly of said frame assembly from said outer wall portion, saidlocking members telescopically receiving and holding in alignment theend portions of adjacent horizontal support members within said lockingmember side wall portions; and a plurality of vertical support membersextending vertically inwardly of said frame assembly from said lockingmembers, said locking members having a seating recess in the inner wallportion thereof cooperating with the recesses in the end portions ofsaid inner wall portions of said horizontal support members receivedtheerin to provide vertical access thereinto, said vertical supportmembers being received within said recesses of said locking members andsaid horizontal support members and being engaged with said lockingmembers to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween, saidouter wall portions of said adjacent horizontal support members beingsnugly interposed between said locking member outer wall portions andone end of said vertical support members, said inwardly projectingengaging 7 portions of said horizontal support members being engagedwith said vertical support members to permit limited relative horizontaltelescopic movement and to prevent said adjacent horizontal supportmembers from sliding peripherally away from said vertical supportmembers and thereby from said locking members.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said vertical support members aregenerally channel-like and have two peripherally spaced verticallyextending side wall portions, and wherein said inwardly projectingengaging portions abut against the interior surface of said peripherallyspaced side wall portions to limit said adjacent horizontal supportmembers in sliding movement peripherally away from said vertical supportmembers.

7. In a water-retaining recreational structure of the type having aliner member of flexible, relatively waterproof sheet material providinga generally circular bottom wall portion and a generally vertical sidewall portion extending about the periphery of said bottom wall portion,the combination therewith of a frame assembly for supporting said linermember and having a relatively rigid, generally vertical support panelextending about the periphery of said liner side wall portion, saidsupport panel being horizontally arcuate to conform closely to theperiphery of said liner side wall to provide rigid horizontal supporttherefor, said panel being vertically dimensioned to generally coincidewith the vertical dimension of said liner side wall portion, the upperedge portion of said liner side wall portion being secured to the upperedge portion of said support panel; a plurality of channel-likehorizontal lower support members extending in end-toend relationshipabout the periphery of said liner bottom Wall portion, said lowersupport members being horizontally arcuate to conform closely to theperiphery of said liner bottom wall portion and having spaced side,upper and lower wall portions with generally aligned slots in said upperwall portions horizontally extending therealon g snugly receiving thelower edge portion of said support panel for aligning said lower edgeportion and for limiting transverse movement thereof, the end portionsof said lower wall portions having upwardly projecting engagingportions, the end portions of said upper wall portions being recessed toprovide generally vertical access to said engaging portions; a pluralityof channel-like lower locking members having a lower Wall portion andhorizontally spaced side wall portions extending upwardly from the sidesof said lower wall portion, and an upper wall portion, said upper wallportion having a slot therein receiving the lower edge portion of saidsupport panel, said lower locking members telescopically receiving andhold ing in alignment the end portions of adjacent lower support memberswithin said lower locking member side wall portions, said lower lockingmembers having recesses in the upper wall portion thereof cooperatingwith the recesses in the upper wall portions of said lower supportmembers to provide vertical access therethrou-gh, a plurality ofchannel-like horizontal upper support members extending in end-to-endrelationship about the periphery of said liner side wall portion, saidupper support members being equal in number and substantially equal inlength to said lower support members and being horizontally arcuate toconform closely to the periphery of said liner side wall portion andhaving spaced side, upper and lower wall portions and generally alignedslots in said lower wall portions horizontally extending therealongsnugly receiving the upper edge portion of said support panel foraligning said upper edge portion and for lirnting transverse movementthereof, the end portions of said upper wall portions having downwardlyprojecting engaging portions and the end portions of said lower wallportions being recessed to provide generally vertical access to saidengaging portions; a plurality of channel-like upper locking membershaving an upper wall portion and horizontally spaced side wall portionsextending downwardly from the sides of said upper wall portion and alower wall portion, said upper locking members being equal in number toand substantially vertically spaced above said lower locking members andtelescopically receiving and holding in alignment the end portions ofadjacent upper support members within said upper locking member sidewall portions, said upper locking members having recesses in the lowerwall portions thereof cooperating with the recesses in the lower wallportions of said upper support members to provide vertical accesstherethrough said upper locking members having a slot in the lower wallportion thereof receiving the upper edge portion of said support panel;and a plurality of vertical support members, the lower end portions ofsaid vertical support members being engaged with said lower lockingmembers to prevent substantial relative movement there-between, saidlower wall portions of said adjacent lower support members being snuglyinterposed between said lower locking member lower wall portions and thelower ends of said vertical support members, said upwardly projectingengaging portions being engaged with said lower end portions of saidvertical support members-to prevent said adjacent lower support membersfrom sliding pcripherally away from said vertical support members andthereby from said locking members, the upper end portions of saidvertical support members being engaged with said upper locking membersto prevent substantial relative movement therebetween, said upper wallportions of said adjacent upper support members being snugly interposedbetween said upper locking member upper wall portions and the upper endsof said vertical support members, said downwardly projecting engagingportions being engaged with said upper end portions of said verticalsupport members to prevent said adjacent upper support members fromsliding peripherally away from said vertical support members and therebyfrom said locking members, said vertical support members beingvertically dimensioned to seat said upper locking members and therebysaid upper support members and said lower locking members and therebysaid lower support members about the upper and lower edges respectivelyof said support panel.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said vertical support members aregenerally channel-like and have peripherally spaced side wall portions,and wherein said upwardly projecting engaging portions and saiddownwardly projecting engaging portions abut against the interiorsurface of the lower and upper end portions respectively of saidperipherally spaced side wall portions to prevent said lower and uppersupport members from sliding peripherally away from said verticalsupport members.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said upper and lower supportmembers are substantially identically configured and dimensioned andwherein said upper and lower locking members are substantiallyidentically configured and dimensioned for interchangeability.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said frame assembly includes aplurality of intermediate support members extending peripherally betweensaid vertical support members intermediate said horizontal supportmembers and outwardly of said panel and wherein said 10 vertical supportmembers have apertures therein for seating the ends of said intermediatesupport members and are engaged therewith.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,846,694 8/1958Wallace 4-172 2,864,098 12/ 1958 Lorimer 4l72 3,142,069 7/1964 OConnellet al. 4l72 3,225,362 12/1965 Barrera 4l72 3,233,251 2/1966 Barrera 4l72LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A WATER-RETAINING RECREATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE TYPE HAVING ALINER MEMBER OF FLEXIBLE, RELATIVELY WATERPROOF SHEET MATERIAL PROVIDINGA BOTTOM WALL PORTION AND A SIDE WALL PORTION EXTENDING ABOUT THEPERIPHERY OF SAID BOTTOM WALL PORTION, THE COMBINATION THEREWITH OF AFRAME ASSEMBLY FOR SUPPORTING SAID LINER MEMBER AND HAVING A RELATIVELYRIGID, GENERALLY VERTICAL SUPPORT PANEL EXTENDING ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OFSAID LINEAR SIDE WALL PORTION AND CLOSELY ADJACENT THERETO TO PROVIDE ARELATIVELY RIGID HORIZONTAL SUPPORT; A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED HORIZONTALSUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING IN END-TO-END RELATIONSHIP ABOUT SAID LINERMEMBER, SAID HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING SPACED SIDE, OUTER ANDINNER WALL PORTIONS AND GENERALLY ALIGNED SLOTS IN SAID INNER WALLPORTIONS HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING THEREALONG AND SNUGLY RECEIVING ONEHORIZONTAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT PANEL FOR ALIGNING SAID EDGEPORTION AND LIMITING TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT THEREOF; A PLURALITY OF LOCKINGMEMBERS HAVING AN INNER WALL PORTION, HORIZONTALLY SPACED SIDE WALLPORTIONS AND AN OUTER WALL PORTION EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, SAID SIDEWALL PORTIONS EXTENDING VERTICALLY INWARDLY OF SAID FRAME ASSEMBLY FROMSAID OUTER WALL PORTION, EACH OF SAID LOCKING MEMBERS TELESCOPICALLYRECEIVING AND HOLDING IN ALIGNMENT THE END PORTIONS OF A PAIR OFADJACENT HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS WITHIN SAID LOCKING MEMBER SIDE WALLPORTIONS, AND HAVING A CHANNEL IN THE INNER WALL PORTION RECEIVING ONEHORIZONTAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT PANEL; AND A PLURALITY OFVERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS EXTENDING VERTICALLY INWARDLY OF SAID FRAMEASSEMBLY FROM SAID LOCKING MEMBERS, HAVING AN OUTER WALL PORTION SPACEDFROM SAID SUPPORT PANEL AND SIDE WALL PORTIONS EXTENDING TOWARD SAIDSIDE WALL PANEL, SAID INNER WALL PORTIONS OF SAID LOCKING MEMBERS ANDSAID END PORTIONS OF SAID HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS HAVING COOPERATINGSEATING APERTURES THEREIN RECEIVING THE END PORTIONS OF SAID VERTICALSUPPORT MEMBERS, SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING ENGAGED WITH SAIDLOCKING MEMBERS TO PREVENT SUBSTANTIAL RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN,SAID END PORTIONS OF SAID ADJACENT HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS WITH SAIDLOCKING MEMBERS BEING SNUGLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID LOCKING MEMBEROUTER WALL PORTIONS AND ONE END OF SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBERS, SAIDADJACENT HORIZONAL SUPPORT MEMBERS BEING ENGAGED WITH SAID VERTICALSUPPORT MEMBERS WITHIN SAID LOCKING MEMBERS TO PERMIT LIMITED RELATIVEHORIZONTAL TELESCOPIC MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN IN ASSEMBLY AND TO PREVENTSAID ADJACENT HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS FROM SLIDING PERIPHERALLY AWAYFROM SAID LOCKING MEMBERS.